NW Arkansas

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Northwest Arkansas with Alex Golden and Worth Sparkman.

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

Axios NW Arkansas Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

Alert

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios NW Arkansas Partners

Northwest Arkansas Members

Membership

Nonprofit opens second attainable housing project

Development

The nonprofit behind the recently opened affordable Bentonville housing development that includes school employees just opened another housing project in Rogers.State of play: Excellerate Foundation&#x27;s new housing project, Walnut Commons, is a 60-unit apartment complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom units for people who make under 60% of the area median income, which is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="roughly $64,000" data-vars-click-url="https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/" data-vars-content-id="f0ccd703-5cf6-4519-9e13-f2b618e2e5c0" data-vars-headline="Nonprofit opens second attainable housing project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/" target="_blank">roughly $64,000</a>, spokesperson Ali Johnson told Axios.<ul><li>The monthly rent for the apartments is $400-$900, Johnson said.</li></ul>

Haunted houses, pop-up bars and Halloween events in NWA

NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.

Things to Do

Halloween is fast approaching, and NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.Here are some of our picks.

Nonprofit launches maternal health data tool

The Maternal Resiliency Index is designed to help policy makers.

News

Bentonville-based Heartland Forward recently launched a beta version of the Maternal Resiliency Index, an interactive online tool.Why it matters: Policymakers can use the tool to examine maternal health statistics by county and estimate how policy changes could affect outcomes, Rachel Morrow, director of the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice, told Axios.

Your ballot initiative guide

Arkansans will vote on four ballot initiatives this November.

Election

Arkansans will soon decide whether to add three amendments to the state&#x27;s constitution and whether to approve one statewide bond issue.Here&#x27;s a rundown of each one.

Arkansas lags in EV readiness

Nationally, 56% of drivers say gas prices have raised their interest in EVs.

Transit

Arkansas is near the bottom of the pack for EV charging and readiness, even as public charging expands nationwide.Why it matters: While U.S. public charging options grew 13% since last year, that growth hasn&#x27;t been evenly distributed, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" annual ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" data-vars-content-id="4416c792-6327-4267-9e45-1d202c3fac6a" data-vars-headline="Arkansas lags in EV readiness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" target="_blank"> annual ranking</a>.

XNA has busiest month ever

The airport had its highest number of enplanements in a single month in July.

Northwest Arkansas National Airport had its highest-ever number of enplanements in a single month in July.The big picture: Airport officials have been trying to stay ahead of the expected increase in demand for years, as the formerly regional airport <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" data-vars-content-id="40051d8b-2e2c-4f78-98e1-c90b1273256b" data-vars-headline="XNA has busiest month ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" target="_self">surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s airport</a> in 2025, six years sooner than predicted.

Bentonville is Arkansas' best place to bike

This year's ratings use a stricter methodology tied to the 2025 NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide.

Sports

Bentonville, the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mountain Bike Capital of the World" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6398071944112" data-vars-content-id="38b38487-b356-417b-bcc6-7103d39b2dd5" data-vars-headline="Bentonville is Arkansas&#x27; best place to bike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6398071944112" target="_blank">Mountain Bike Capital of the World</a>,&quot; climbed to Arkansas&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No. 1 spot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/07/17/northwest-arkansas-cities-ranked-on-best-places-to-bike-list" data-vars-content-id="38b38487-b356-417b-bcc6-7103d39b2dd5" data-vars-headline="Bentonville is Arkansas&#x27; best place to bike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/07/17/northwest-arkansas-cities-ranked-on-best-places-to-bike-list" target="_self">No. 1 spot</a> on PeopleForBikes&#x27; annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="best place to bike" data-vars-click-url="https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/" data-vars-content-id="38b38487-b356-417b-bcc6-7103d39b2dd5" data-vars-headline="Bentonville is Arkansas&#x27; best place to bike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/" target="_blank">best place to bike</a> list, but NWA has ground to cover under a tougher new national standard.Why it matters: The rankings track whether people can realistically use bikes for everyday transportation, not just as recreation.<ul><li>There are more than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="200 miles" data-vars-click-url="https://findingnwa.com/areas-of-interest/bike-cycling/" data-vars-content-id="38b38487-b356-417b-bcc6-7103d39b2dd5" data-vars-headline="Bentonville is Arkansas&#x27; best place to bike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://findingnwa.com/areas-of-interest/bike-cycling/" target="_blank">200 miles</a> of paved trails in NWA, and local governments have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spent heavily on trail connections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/04/02/nwa-trail-system-expansion-greenway-connectivity?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="38b38487-b356-417b-bcc6-7103d39b2dd5" data-vars-headline="Bentonville is Arkansas&#x27; best place to bike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/04/02/nwa-trail-system-expansion-greenway-connectivity?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_self">spent heavily on trail connections</a> and bike infrastructure for years.</li></ul>

Fayetteville solicits input on School Avenue

The city has drafted three concepts for the road.

The city of Fayetteville is accepting feedback on its planned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South School Avenue improvements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/4484/S-School-Avenue-Improvements" data-vars-content-id="8e08100a-2353-4bc7-94ab-33e4d41308bf" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville solicits input on School Avenue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/4484/S-School-Avenue-Improvements" target="_blank">South School Avenue improvements</a>, which include the section between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and 15th Street.The big picture: The area is part of the city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Highway 71B Corridor plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18574/71B-Corridor-Master-Plan-Final#page=142" data-vars-content-id="8e08100a-2353-4bc7-94ab-33e4d41308bf" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville solicits input on School Avenue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18574/71B-Corridor-Master-Plan-Final#page=142" target="_blank">U.S. Highway 71B Corridor plan</a>, which includes the traffic artery from Cato Springs Road in the south to Zion Road in the north, excluding the section between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and North Street.

What to know about travelin' Arkansas this week

At least 73 million people, about 90% of Thanksgiving travelers, will go by car.

Travel

If you&#x27;re going to leave town for Thanksgiving, it&#x27;s gonna be crowded out there.The big picture: A record-breaking 81.8 million Americans will be traveling for Thanksgiving this year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AAA" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/11/aaa-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-2025/" data-vars-content-id="24ad020e-d6d1-40de-bf2c-554639abee38" data-vars-headline="What to know about travelin&#x27; Arkansas this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/11/aaa-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-2025/" target="_blank">AAA</a> predicts.

We went to San Francisco and tried a driverless car

Our reporter found a Waymo ride to be observant of traffic laws and largely hassle-free.

Culture

I have seen the future, and it&#x27;s self-driving.State of play: I recently spent a long weekend in San Francisco, my first trip to what is now one of my favorite cities. As I was taking in the expected culture and views, I noticed something that felt especially new to my brain — people riding in cars without anyone in the driver&#x27;s seat.

Walton Family Foundation grants to fund big changes for Razorback Greenway, Bentonville schools

The grants come via the design excellence program.

The latest batch of Walton Family Foundation grants will help regional planners decide what&#x27;s next for the Razorback Greenway, and Bentonville Public Schools decide what&#x27;s next for its downtown campus.The big picture: The grants come via the design excellence program, which has supported construction and renovation projects like the Rogers Historical Museum and Railyard Park in downtown Rogers or TheatreSquared in downtown Fayetteville.

XNA hits enplanement milestone

Population and economic growth are driving long-term expansion plans at XNA.

For the first time, passengers boarded planes more than 1 million times at Northwest Arkansas National Airport this year.The big picture: Population and economic growth are driving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long-term expansion plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/xna-northwest-arkansas-airport-growth-regional-airport" data-vars-content-id="7dae1b5a-5cfc-4f7c-a9a8-9b595c41062e" data-vars-headline="XNA hits enplanement milestone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/xna-northwest-arkansas-airport-growth-regional-airport" target="_self">long-term expansion plans</a> at XNA, which opened in 1998.

Arkansas gas prices dip below $3 going into Thanksgiving

AA estimates 55.4 million people will travel 50 miles or more between Wednesday and Sunday.

Queue up the podcasts, check the tires and grab a large coffee.What&#x27;s happening: AAA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="estimates" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/11/aaa-thanksgiving-holiday-travel-period-forecast/" data-vars-content-id="cd08b583-8e6d-40db-b4d0-34bc9d4f72f6" data-vars-headline="Arkansas gas prices dip below $3 going into Thanksgiving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/11/aaa-thanksgiving-holiday-travel-period-forecast/" target="_blank">estimates</a> 55.4 million people will travel 50 miles or more between Wednesday and Sunday, and 44.9 million of those will get there by auto.<ul><li>While more EVs are on the road, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most Arkansas travelers will end up" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/08/03/arkansas-electric-vehicle-adoption" data-vars-content-id="cd08b583-8e6d-40db-b4d0-34bc9d4f72f6" data-vars-headline="Arkansas gas prices dip below $3 going into Thanksgiving" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/08/03/arkansas-electric-vehicle-adoption" target="_self">most Arkansas travelers will end up</a> pumping gas this week.</li></ul>The latest: The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the Natural State is $2.94, down more than 2.5% from this time last year and down 50 cents since August.

Northwest Arkansas workers' commutes have gotten a little longer

The share of Northwest Arkansas workers with relatively speedy commutes has slightly decreased compared to pre-pandemic times, per a new Axios analysis of census data.Why it matters: Quicker commutes are<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" tied" data-vars-click-url="https://hbr.org/2021/05/that-dreaded-commute-is-actually-good-for-your-health" data-vars-content-id="cbcfeffa-235f-4577-b8be-5593822f6570" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas workers&#x27; commutes have gotten a little longer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://hbr.org/2021/05/that-dreaded-commute-is-actually-good-for-your-health" target="_blank"> tied</a> to better mental health, greater job satisfaction and many other personal benefits.

Public EV chargers vs. miles of roads

Data: HERE Technologies-SBD Automotive 2026 survey; Chart: Jim Sergent/Axios

A bar chart that compares 2026 PeopleForBikes network scores for 10 Arkansas cities on a 0-100 scale. Bentonville leads at 50. Bella Vista and Fayetteville follow at 49. Conway ranks last at 26. Scores cluster from 26 to 50, with Northwest Arkansas cities posting higher ratings.

PeopleForBikes' bike network scores for select Arkansas cities, 2026

Data: PeopleForBikes; Note: Ratings are calculated based on the connectivity to destinations in six categories: people, opportunity, core services, recreation, retail, and transit; Chart: Worth Sparkman/Axios

A line chart that tracks Thanksgiving holiday travelers from 2019 to 2025. Travel dropped to 56.8 million in 2020, then rose steadily to 78.2 million in 2023. Projections show increases to 80.2 million in 2024 and 81.8 million in 2025, nearing pre-pandemic levels.

Transit 🚗

Arkansas lags in EV readiness

XNA has busiest month ever

Bentonville is Arkansas' best place to bike

Fayetteville solicits input on School Avenue

What to know about travelin' Arkansas this week